Fremantle coach Ross Lyon admits the club may have pushed Harley Bennell too hard earlier this season, saying they were trying to turn him into AFL's version of Superman.
Bennell is yet to play a senior game for the Dockers because of chronic calf issues on both legs.
The former Gold Coast midfielder is a chance to make his playing return via the WAFL next week before pushing for his Dockers debut later in July.
Bennell was sent to Germany last December to receive treatment from soft tissue specialist Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt.
Since then, Bennell has suffered several more calf setbacks - a situation Lyon believes the club contributed to.
"We probably pushed Harley beyond what he needed to be pushed - trying to create something like Superman really," Lyon said.
"He was 40 per cent above our cohort average on leg strength on calf strength. And coming to the club he was probably the weakest.
"So that gives you context of how hard he worked and how hard we pushed him.
"But in hindsight, could we have backed it off earlier? Did we need to take him to that level?
"We were trying to build something really strong and sustainable.
"But he's such a quality athlete. Did we need to take him to that? That's probably the debate.
"In theory, he probably could have been playing (by now)."
The Dockers are set to be bolstered by the return of skipper Nat Fyfe (bruised sternum) and ruckman Aaron Sandilands (hamstring) for Sunday's clash with St Kilda at Domain Stadium.
Fyfe has been carrying his chest injury for more than a month and even wore a protective vest in the shock loss to Brisbane three weeks ago.
Lyon said the 2015 Brownlow medallist wanted to play in last week's two-point loss to Geelong but was ruled out by the club's medical staff.
"He's really courageous - we know that. I've seen him play with a broken leg," Lyon said.
"Sometimes you've got to save them from themselves and make a hard decision.
"He pushed to play last week. He trained. But he wasn't playing in the manner that we desired, and he desired.
"Bone bruising takes a while. There's certainly nothing sinister in it. Sometimes it can just be a bit of cartilage that you inflame."
Lyon will consider playing Fyfe as a permanent forward against the Saints.
"We know he's an absolute strength down there in the air and a competitive beast," Lyon said.
"And just having him around will make Shane Kersten, Cameron McCarthy and everyone walk a bit taller."
Kersten and McCarthy have combined for just five goals during the past four matches but Lyon said he would persist with the duo for at least another week.
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